Railway Science (Environment – Environmental Conservation)

Sustainable development - A way of improving our lives and the well-being of future generations while also taking care of the environment and conserving resources. It includes harmonizing three elements - Economic growth, Social inclusion and Environmental protection.
Global initiatives on Sustainable development - The Stockholm Conference (1972), The Earth Summit (1992), Kyoto Protocol (1997), Paris Agreement (2015) etc.

Non-renewable Energy sources - Coal, Rare earth elements, Petroleum products, Gold, Uranium. There is a need for conservation Since they take millions of years to form. It cannot be replenished at the rate by which we are consuming it. These sources are also responsible for pollution to the environment because carbon is the main element present in fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.

Forests conserve soil by their tree roots anchoring soil, preventing erosion, enhancing water absorption, and maintaining soil fertility through leaf litter decomposition, thereby reducing the risk of soil degradation. Flora - plant life in a particular region. Fauna - animal life in a particular region.

Watershed - the area of land where all the water drains into a central point, like rivers, lakes or streams.
Watershed management advantages - Controls Pollution, replenishes the groundwater, maintained by the locals, increases the production of crops, avoids floods during heavy rainfalls, prevention of over exploitation of natural resources.
Disadvantages - huge costs, require regular maintenance, can only be built in areas that have adequate rainfall, deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

Sustainability consists of fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations, while ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being. Therefore, sustainability is made up of three pillars: the economy, society, and the environment.

Natural resources: Drawn from nature and used with few modifications. Eg - Oil, coal, natural gas, metals, air, sunlight, soil and water, Animals, birds, fish and plants. Uses: To make food, fuel and raw materials for the production of goods.

Chipko Movement (1973): The villagers used to hug the trees and encircle them to prevent being hacked. Leader - Sundarlal Bahuguna. Slogan - Ecology is a permanent economy.
Bishnoi Movement - To save sacred trees from being cut down by the king of Jodhpur. Leader - Amrita Devi. Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985) is opposed to a number of large dam projects on the Narmada River. Leader - Medha Patekar.

Kulhads are made by firing in the oven. As a result, making a large number of Kulhads would require a large amount of fuel. Because the Kulhads are baked, the Kulhads used do not degrade faster.
The list of banned items includes - earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, plastic or PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) banners less than 100 micron.

The National Wasteland Development Board (NWDB) was established in 1985 (Ministry of Forests and Environment). Aim - bringing wastelands in the country into productive use through a massive programme of afforestation and tree plantations.

Amrita Devi Bishnoi was a resident of Khejarli village. She sacrificed her life along with her 3 daughters, to save the trees of her village from being cut by the Maharaja (Jodhpur). The 'Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award' is given in the memory of Amrita Devi Bishnoi.